SIJHL announces Norskies – Lakers 1st round playoff schedule

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Sunday the game schedule for its upcoming first round quarter-final play-in series between the No. 4 seeded Thief River Falls Norskies and No. 5 Fort Frances Lakers.

This best-of-five affair will commence Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena with Game 1.

The Norskies will also host Game 2 on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Switching venues, the series will then shift to Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances where Game 3 while be held on Friday and features another 7:30 p.m. start.

If necessary, Game 4 would be hosted by the Lakers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Should the match-up go the distance, a fifth and deciding contest is slated for Monday, March 27 back at the The Ralph in Thief River Falls at 7:30 p.m.

The winner will advance to league semifinal action where they’ll take on the No. 1 seeded Dryden GM Ice Dogs in a best-of-seven affair.

The No. 2 Thunder Bay North Stars will meet the No. 3 English River Miners in the other semifinal, which features another best-of-seven series.

From there, the two surviving squads will advance to the Bill Salonen Cup final, which is also a best-of-seven.

The SIJHL champion will move on to represent the league at the 2017 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A Championship, May 2-6, in Trenton, Ont.

Joining the host Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) and the Bill Salonen Cup champion at the five-day event will be the winners from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and either the title holder or finalist from the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Should Trenton prevail as OJHL Buckland Trophy champions, then the league finalist will also take part.

Awaiting the Dudley-Hewitt Cup victor will be a berth in the 2017 RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship, May 13-21, in Cobourg, Ont.

The following is the SIJHL quarter-final series schedule between the Thief River Falls Norskies and Fort Frances Lakers: